The Idea School staff and students dove right into their first semester projects, learning and design challenges. Launching the 11th and 12th grades beit midrash, history and English project for the semester is “SIM New York City,” a Live Action Role Play (LARP), in which students have been divided into departments on New York’s City Council and will have to redesign New York based on what they learn in class as well as crises and scenarios they have to deal with.

The ninth and 10th grade began with Project Block time; a period in their schedules dedicated to working with students to hone skills, deepen learning and complete projects for classes and Exhibition. The first Project Block was devoted to getting comfortable in the Maker Space and an activity that had the students working in groups to figure out how a civilization they were assigned would work. Elective classes also began this week with new offerings such as music, studio art and computer science. The week ended with a presentation of designs and ice cream.